Folding easel.



W. G. A. JONES.

FOLDiNG EASEL. APPLICATION FILED NOV- 3.l915- 1,225,642.- Patented May 8,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN VENTOR.

11(6- A. Jones W. G. A. JONES.

FOLDING EASEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. m5.

1,225,642. Patented May 8, 1917.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: IN VEN TOR.

WG/[Jonea WILLIAM G. A. JONES, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

FOLDING EASEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Application filed November 3, 1915. Serial No. 59,359.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. A. J ONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Easels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding easels of the character shown and described in Letters-Patent No. 1,128,324, issued to me on February 16, 1915.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide in a device of the type mentioned, certain improvements and additions which simplify its construction, render the device more practical and effective in use and adapt it for novel purposes.

Principal among the novel features of the present invention are an improved means for holding a paint box in an accessible position on an easel upon which a can'- vasor sketch-pad is supported, adjustable and removable rests for the pad or canvas, supplemental rests for the support of brushes and the like, means to automatically retain the parts of. the structure in their operative position with relation to each other, and a removable copy-holder which is attached to the easel to hold a print or drawing in a position in which it can be readily referred to by a student while at work upon a surface'supported on'the easel.

My improved easel is furthermore provided with adjustable extensions'to increase its stability in case an article of more than the ordinary weight of a canvas or sketchpad is supported on its rests, and in this connection it should be understood that the device while principally intended for use as an artists easel and paint-box'holder, may be readily adapted for use as a book rest or as a stand for the display of merchandise in show windows or on counters of stores.

In the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved easel in its operative position with a paintbox attached thereto ready for use,

Fig. 2, an enlarged section along the line 2-2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3, a vertical section through the device as it is shown in Fig.1,

Fig. 4:, a horizontal section'taken along the line 4-4, Fig. 3,

Fig. 5, an enlarged section along the line 55, Fig. 4,

F ig, 6, an enlarged section along the line 66, Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7, a face view of the automatic looking means at the back of the easel shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, my improved easel is composed of a pair of connected supports 2 each consisting of three integrally connected members 3, 4 and 5, the first two of which are bent at right angles to each other while the third 1s hypotenusal with relation to the other members to provide a slanting support for the canvas, book or sketch-pad.

At the juncture of the hypotenusal member 5 with the in-practice horizontally disposed sole member a of the supports, a short connection 6 is formed at right angles to the member 4 for insertion between the body 7 and the lid 8 of a paint-box supported on the sole members as is clearly shown in-Fi'g. 1 of the drawings.

The hypotenusal front members of the supports are extended beyond the points at which they connect with the upright back members 3 of the same, for the attachment of ferrules 9 which form part of the copyholding attachment included in my invention.

The copy-holder consists of two straps 10 which at one of their ends are looped to provide resilient clips 12 for the suspension of a sheet of paper, card or other similar object.

The ferrules 90f the attachment are bent angularly to place the straps inserted in their upper portions in a substantially upright position when the lower portions of the same are placedover the extensions of the hypotenusal members of the supports as shown in Figs. land 3.

The slanting members of the supports are doubled adjacent their lower ends to pro vide forwardly projecting fixed rests 13 for the support of brushes, books and other objects.

The members 5 are furthermore provided along one of their edges with a series of equidistantly spaced notches 14 for the suspension of supplemental rests 15 which are adjustably and removably connected with the supports.

The supplemental rests consist of hooks which at their upper ends have laterally which may projecting detents 16 which are inserted in the notches of the hypotenusal members of the supports.

Sliding sleeves 17 which are adapted to embrace the members 5 and the parts of the hooks engaging therewith, are provided to lock the supplemental rests removably in their adjusted positions on the supports.

Fingers 18 which are looped at one of their. ends for their sliding connection with the slantingmembers of the supports, engage the inside of the body of a paint-box placed upon the sole members of the same, to hold the box against upward and lateral displacement.

With the parts thus connected, the easel may be held in the hand while in use by inserting a finger through the ring usually found on paint-boxes most commonly used by artists and their students. 7

To increase the stability of the easel when used for the support of objects heavier than the ordinary canvas or sketch-pad, exten sion-members 19 are pivotally connected with the sole members of the supports, as at 20, and held in an extended position in alinement with said members by means of sliding sleeves 21.

When not in use the extensions are folded beneath the sole members.

The two supports of the easel are connected by three separate appliances each of be used either singly or in cooperation with either one of the others or with both.

The simplest one of the connections comprises a pair of hinged links 22 which at 'their outer extremities are pivotally attached to the slanting members of the supports as at 23. The second connection is composed of two pairs of pivotally connected links 24 which at their outer ends are pivotally attached to the back-members of the supports. 7

The links of the second pair are entwined to provide a locking means which limits the distance to which the two supports can be separated. The entwined links furthermore serve to hold by their frictional contact with each other, the supports apart at any desired distance within the maximum distance determined by the engagement of their jointed extremities. I

By making the links of the lower pair shorter than those of the upper pair as shown in Fig. 7 the locking action is intensified.

The third connection between the supports consists of two straps 25 and 26 pivoted at opposite points on the lower members of the supports and provided with complementary means such as a notch 27 and a detent 28 to hold them in alinement. V l

The straps when placed in alinement are connected by a sliding sleeve 29, and when not in use they are folded upon the lower members of the supports.

It will'be readily seen from the foregoing description that by placing the short connections 6 between the lower members and the slanting members of the supports, between the body and lowering the fingers 18 to engage the inside thereof, the parts are securely locked together and the device may be used either by holding it in the hand, placing it upon a surface, or suspending it from a suitable support. 7

The adjustable rests 15 are used for the support of canvases or sketch-pads of different dimensions in a desired working position, the fixed rests as a support for brushesand the like, and the detachable holders for the suspension of a copy.

When the device is used for the support of a book or other heavy article, the extension 19 may be utilized to increase its stability,and if the book or article is of large proportions, the rests 15 may be removed, in which case the article is supported upon the fixed rests 13.

When the. device is not in use it can be folded and taken apart to be placed in a box or other container of comparatively small dimensions.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. A folding easel comprising a pair of adjustably connected supports each including a sole member, a slanting member, means on the last mentioned member for the support of a sketch-pad or the like, and between and open lid of'a paint-box f said members, a connection adapted to ento be placed in engagement with a paint-box supported upon the sole lgeglbers of the same, for the purpose speci 2. A folding easel comprising a pair of adjustably connected supports each including a slanting member for the support of a 7 sketch-pad or the like, the said slanting members being notched for the attachment of rests at different elevations, rests having detents to enter the notches of the'slanting members of the supports, for securing the rests in their adjusted positions on the slanting members.

3. A folding easel comprising a pair of supports each including a sole member and a member slanting connection between said supports, adapted to permit of their being moved apart or closed together, rests on the slanting members of the support, adapted to conjointly support a sketch-pad or the like, a copyholder composed with relation thereto, a.

of two cooperative parts pro 'ided with means for the suspension 01 a copy above the supports, and means for securing said parts at the upper ends of said supports.

4. A folding easel comprising two elements adapted to cooperatively support an object in a slanting position upon a surface and each composed of a triangularly bent strap provided at its upper corner with an extension for the attachment of a copyholder, straps connecting said elements and cooperatively arranged to permit of the latter being moved toward and from each other, a copy-holder composed of tWo members provided with means for the suspension of a copy, and means for detachably securing said members separately to the extentions of said elements.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM G. A. JONES. lVitnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, L. RrIoADEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

